Monday, November 13, 2006

Radio Liberty reports that Russian "President" Vladimir Putin went into a rabid, mouth-frothing frenzy of cold war provocation during during a visit to the new Moscow headquarters of Russian Military Intelligence (GRU). It states that "he told military intelligence chiefs that the practice by some states of taking 'one-sided illegitimate action' and their attempts to 'unceremoniously push their positions' undermines stability." By "some states" it was clearly understood that he was referring to the United States. A reader provides further translation of some of Putin's remarks:

The international community finds itself in a situation in which factors of force are dominating in international relations, a situation where relations are being undermined by unilateral action ­ action that is not legitimate in international law ­ undertaken by a number of countries, and by attempts by some countries to unceremoniously impose their positions without taking into account at all the legitimate interests of other partners. And you know what means states make use of when carrying out such action: the economy, political and diplomatic means, and a monopoly on the world media.

In my Address [to the Federal Assembly], I spoke of the stagnation in disarmament, a stagnation that has not come about through any fault of ours. Furthermore, the threat of the emergence of destabilising weapons such as low-charge nuclear weapons and strategic missiles equipped with non-nuclear warheads is on the rise. A number of countries seek to have their hands free in order to place weapons, including nuclear weapons, in space.

The threat of a global conflict has been reduced to a minimum today, and this is indeed the case. The system of international relations ensures an unprecedented level of mutual controls and confidence in the military sphere. At the same time, however, we see that not only are the leading countries not giving up arsenals that are well above what is needed for their actual defence, but, on the contrary, are constantly modernising them, including offensive weapons. These processes all call for the GRU’s close attention.

Going further, wide-scale activity by international terrorist groups remains a serious threat today. We have received repeated information from the intelligence services, including military intelligence, on support for underground terrorist groups in Russia from abroad.

I stress that these channels of support must be identified and decisive action must be taken to cut them off and liquidate them.

The problem of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction also remains very serious. The blows dealt to the non-proliferation control regime are a real threat for the entire world, and for Russia, of course, for our people, all the more so as the problem regions are in direct proximity to our borders.

I note that the GRU has begun paying close attention to non-proliferation issues, and rightly so. I ask you to continue to keep a close eye on the whole range of issues concerning nuclear, chemical, biological weapons and missile technology. And, of course, we must also ensure that components of weapons of mass destruction do not fall into the hands of terrorist organisations.

Russia is spending at least 3% of GDP on its military, probably much more, despite the total absence of direct military threats other than Chechnya, which the Kremlin claims has been resolved. Russia is matching the percent GDP that the U.S. devotes to military spending even though the Russian economy is five times smaller per capita, which means that this level of spending is five times more difficult for Russians to bear than Americans. What's more, if Russia's rate of military spending increase continues, it will soon rocket past the U.S. in share of GDP devoted to military spending (what brought the USSR to its knees was trying to match the US dollar-for-dollar). And having imposed this burden on its impoverished society and decimated population, Russia is still left spending ten times less on the military than the U.S., it's so-called enemy, leaving it relatively defenseless in the event of a confrontation.

So you mean to say that if America provides 100,000 M-16s to Chechnya that won't be a "direct military threat" to Russia?

You are comparing Venezuela to Chechnya? Two questions: when you last time looked on world map and when US had a sovereignty over Venezuela? These are two different things: supply legitimate regime with weapons or supply insurgents with weapons. So when Russia supplies Chavez with AK103 and AK104, it is legitimate business, no more. If US will try to ship M16 to guys who are dreaming about another Beslan... well, let's say it would be best for all US citizen leave Russian territory before that. And very quickly.

And, by that logic, the expansion of NATO isn't a threat to Russia either?

It is a threat, but it is not direct military threat. Learn to be responsible for your own words.

So, by "direct military threat" you mean actual attacks by Russians on American soil?

Not necessarily Russian attacks but yes, attacks on US (not South or Central American or Canadian) soil.

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PUTIN MUST FREE THE NEMTSOV WHITE PAPER!

That craven coward Vladimir Putin is censoring the brilliant, courageous and patriotic research of former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov reviewing Putin's record in office. We demand this outrage cease immediately. Read the paper in English PDF here. The HTML version (can be cut and pasted) is here.

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As lightning to the children easedWith explanation kind,The truth must dazzle graduallyOr every man be blind.

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From childhood's hour I have not beenAs others were, I have not seenAs others saw, I could not bringMy passions from the common spring.From the same source I have not takenMy sorrow, I could not awakenMy heart to joy at the same tone,And all I loved, I loved alone.Then in my childhood, in the dawnOf a most stormy life was drawnFrom every depth of good and illThe mystery which binds me still:From the torrent, and the fountain,From the red cliff of the mountain,From the sun that 'round me rolledIn its autumn tint of gold;From the lightning in the sky,As it passed me, flying by,From the thunder, and the storm,And the cloud that took the form(When the rest of Heaven was blue)Of a demon in my view.

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Girl Power: Ginger Rogers could do everything Fred Astaire could do . . . backwards, and in high heels.

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Girl Power: On May 14, 2006, a perfect game was pitched in the Oakfield, New York Little League. Perfect as in 18 consecutive strikeouts. The pitcher's name? Katie Brownell. She's the only female player in the league.

Girl Power: On April 13, 2007, the Independent reported that women will soon be able to produce sperm cells from their bone marrow, making men obsolete.